Fitting the Puzzle Pieces: the Bigger Picture of XCI

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• 作者：Cheryl Maduro¹ ; Bas de Hoon¹ ; Joost Gribnau¹ ; ^{j.gribnau@erasmusmc.nl" class="auth_mail" title="E-mail the corresponding author}
• 关键词：X chromosome inactivation (XCI) ; X-pairing ; Spen ; Barr body ; Xist ; chromatin ; gene regulation ; epigenetics
• 刊名：Trends in Biochemical Sciences
• 出版年：2016
• 出版时间：February 2016
• 年：2016
• 卷：41
• 期：2
• 页码：138-147
• 全文大小：1469 K

文摘

X chromosome inactivation (XCI) is a mammalian-specific process initiated in all female cells, leading to one inactivated X chromosome. The robust nature of XCI, and the complex mechanisms involved in directing this process, makes XCI an important model system to study all aspects of gene regulation. XCI is divided into distinct phases: initiation, establishment, and maintenance of the inactive X (Xi). Recent studies shed important new light on the mechanisms directing all three phases of XCI. These findings include new regulatory pathways in XCI initiation, and the identification of a plethora of new factors involved in establishing and maintaining the Xi. In this review, we will highlight and discuss these new findings in the bigger picture of XCI.